### §1971. "Vessel of the United States" defined

For the purposes of this chapter the term "vessel of the United States" shall mean any private vessel documented or certificated under the laws of the United States. Notwithstanding any other law, the documentation or certification of any such vessel shall not be considered to be affected, for the purposes of this chapter, in any manner or to any extent if at any time during any voyage for the purpose of fishing beyond the fishery conservation zone (as defined in section 1802(8) 1 of title 16), the vessel is commanded by other than a citizen of the United States.

(Aug. 27, 1954, ch. 1018, §1, 68 Stat. 883; Pub. L. 95–541, §14(a), Oct. 28, 1978, 92 Stat. 2057; Pub. L. 96–561, title II, §238(b), Dec. 22, 1980, 94 Stat. 3300; Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, §101(a) [title II, §211(b)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009–41.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### References in Text

Section 1802(8) of title 16, referred to in text, which defined "fishery conservation zone", was repealed and section 1802(6) of Title 16, Conservation, defining the term "exclusive economic zone", was added by Pub. L. 99–659, title I, §101(a), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3706. Section 1802 was subsequently amended and the term "exclusive economic zone" is defined elsewhere in that section.

#### Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–208 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 1802(8) of title 16.

1980—Pub. L. 96–561 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 1802(8) of title 16.

1978—Pub. L. 95–541 provided that the documentation or certification of a vessel of the United States not be affected if at any time during the voyage for the purpose of fishing beyond the fishery conservation zone, the vessel is commanded by other than a citizen of the United States.

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, §101(a) [title II, §211(b)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009–41, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective 15 days after Oct. 11, 1996.

#### Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–561, title II, §238(b), Dec. 22, 1980, 94 Stat. 3300, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective 15 days after Dec. 22, 1980.

#### Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–541, §14(b), Oct. 28, 1978, 92 Stat. 2057, provided that the amendment made by section 14(a) of Pub. L. 95–541, amending this section, was to take effect Jan. 1, 1978, prior to the general amendment by Pub. L. 104–227, title I, §107, Oct. 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 3042.

#### Short Title of 2000 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–450, title I, §101, Nov. 7, 2000, 114 Stat. 1941, provided that: "This title [amending section 1977 of this title] may be cited as the 'Fishermen's Protective Act Amendments of 2000'."

#### Short Title

Pub. L. 90–482, §4, Aug. 12, 1968, 82 Stat. 730, provided that: "The Act of August 27, 1954 (68 Stat. 883; 22 U.S.C. 1971–1976), as amended by this Act [this chapter], may be cited as the 'Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967'."

1 See References in Text note below.